Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Animated movies often bring to mind family-friendly content—but that is not the case with 1988's Grave of the Fireflies. This animated movie will rip your heart out and pulverize it, especially if you go in blind.
Ghibli, Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Grave of the Fireflies is set during WWII and tells the story of two Japanese siblings desperately trying to make it through. Be warned: If you're close with your siblings, this movie will cut deep. It's a harrowing reminder of the consequences of war and that life just isn't fair.
Ghibli, Grave of the Fireflies (1988)
Life is Beautiful (1997)
Any film about the Holocaust is going to be devastating, but Life Is Beautiful hits especially hard thanks to how meticulously its story is constructed—layering hope, humor, and heartbreak in a way that makes the emotional payoff absolutely unavoidable.
Cecchi Gori, Life Is Beautiful (1997)
Life is Beautiful (1997)
Life is Beautiful is divided into two parts. The first part is filled with joyful moments, introducing the audience to the main character, Guido. However, the second part is about Guido's life during WWII—and his attempt to protect his son from the evil that surrounds them. He turns their life at the concentration camp into a game.
This is such a brutal, but necessary film—and definitely worth a watch.
Cecchi Gori, Life Is Beautiful (1997)
The Green Mile (1999)
Tom Hanks has starred in many tearjerkers. Think: Philadelphia or Forrest Gump. Where there is Tom Hanks there is bound to be tears shed. However, I might argue that his most tragic film is The Green Mile.
Warner Bros., The Green Mile (1999)
The Green Mile (1999)
Now, not everyone might know that The Green Mile is based on a Stephen King novel. Yes, the "King of Horror" himself wrote this story—but, of course, in this case, he's more like the "King of Sadness."
Warner Bros., The Green Mile (1999)
The Green Mile (1999)
While Tom Hanks puts on a stellar performance as per usual, it is Michael Clarke Duncan who truly steals the show as an inmate who has been wrongly convicted and faces his imminent execution.
Warner Bros., The Green Mile (1999)
Sophie's Choice (1982)
Watching Sophie's Choice is not for the faint of heart—and if you're a parent, it might just ruin you. This film is about the Holocaust and follows Meryl Streep's character, Sophie.
Universal, Sophie's Choice (1982)
Sophie's Choice (1982)
If you haven't seen this film and don't know what Sophie's "choice" actually is, it is simply the most unthinkable decision possible—something a human should never be made to do. The ultimatum scene in this film is infamous for a reason.
Universal, Sophie's Choice (1982)
Dead Poets Society (1989)
I can’t make it through a Robin Williams movie without getting misty, but Dead Poets Society hits on a whole different frequency. It’s a coming-of-age gut-punch that sneaks in with wit and warmth—then flips the switch to heartbreak with a kind of precision that feels unfair.
Touchstone, Dead Poets Society (1989)
Dead Poets Society (1989)
At first, Dead Poets Society is simply a feel-good film about an English teacher inspiring his students to fully express themselves and appreciate poetry and life—but as it draws to a close, a horrific tragedy comes to pass.
Touchstone, Dead Poets Society (1989)
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
These days, we've been getting a lot of delightful, feel-good LGBTQ+ movies—but back in 2005, a gay romance came out that broke our hearts in two. Yup, it's Brokeback Mountain.
River Road, Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Directed by Ang Lee, this movie brings Annie Proulx's tragic short story to life, with deeply moving performances from the two lead actors, Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhall.
River road, Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Brokeback Mountain (2005)
As a viewer following the love story of Jack and Ennis, you will become attached to the characters. This makes the jaw-dropping ending downright unbearable. Get ready to cry, because life can be so, so cruel.
River Road, Brokeback Mountain (2005)
Terms of Endearment (1983)
1983's Terms of Endearment stars heavy hitters like Shirley MacLaine, Debra Winger, and Jack Nicholson. It's a family drama—or rather, tragicomedy—that will have mother's clutching their daughters closer.
There's a reason why this film one five Oscars, including Best Picture.
Paramount, Terms of Endearment (1983)
Terms of Endearment (1983)
Directed by James L. Brooks, Terms of Endearment centers on the fraught mother-daughter relationship between the main characters, Aurora and Emma. It's laugh-out-loud funny one moment and absolutely gut-wrenching the next. Speaking from experience, those last 15 minutes caused some serious emotional damage.
Paramount, Terms of Endearment (1983)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Steven Speilberg's Saving Private Ryan brought WWII to the big screen in a chillingly realistic way. For those who have seen it, the horrific beach scene in Normandy will forever be seared into our memories.
DreamWorks, Saving Private Ryan (1999)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
The subject of war is tragic already, but Saving Private Ryan makes a fictional story feel all too real through excellent character development. Tom Hanks plays Captain Miller who goes on a mission to save Private Ryan, whose brothers have already died.
DreamWorks, Saving Private Ryan (1999)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
The squad that sets out to save Private Ryan go on a life-defining journey as they grapple with their identities as soldiers, the cost of war, and the daunting mission they must complete.
DreamWorks, Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Manchester by the Sea (2016)
When I first saw the trailer for Manchester by the Sea, I thought it might be one of those undercover feel-good films. NOPE. It's just plain depressing. The plot of this family drama centers around grief, and many consider this to be Casey Affleck's best performance.
Amazon, Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Affleck plays Lee Chandler, a reclusive janitor with a soul-crushing backstory. However, his life is turned upside down when his brother suddenly passes away. Lee must now look after his nephew while grappling with the demons from his past.
Amazon, Manchester by the Sea (2016)
Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
As though the 1977 book Bridge to Terabithia wasn't devastating enough, they had to go and make a movie adaptation. Honestly, to those who went into this film having not read the book, my heart is with you.
Walt Disney, Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
Bridge to Terabithia has a very wholesome plot about friendship, two young kids becoming closer after creating an imaginary kingdom together called "Terabithia." But as heartwarming as most of this story is, it is utterly derailed by a plot twist nobody sees coming. If you know, you know. Even worse?
The book was inspired by a very real tragedy.
Walt Disney, Bridge to Terabithia (2007)
The Pianist (2002)
Roman Polanski's The Pianist, starring Adrien Brody, is based on Wladyslaw Szpilman's memoir. Szpilman was a Polish-Jewish pianist and composer who survived the Holocaust. Watching this film with the knowledge that the main character was a real person makes this film brutal to watch.
The Pianist (2002)
The Pianist does not hold back, and follows Szplilman as he witnesses gruesome atrocities and does everything he can to survive. There is no glorification of war here and the rawness of this film will absolutely move viewers to tears.
Minari (2020)
Following the trials and tribulation of a Korean immigrant family, Minari is a slow burn that might just make you cry in frustration. You will undoubtedly find yourself rooting for the family patriarch, David, who is trying his best to provide for his family—but life throws him a series of cruel curveballs.
Actor Steven Yuen plays David so well—and you just want the character to succeed so badly.
Minari (2020)
Near the end of Minari, the most tragic chapter of the Yi family's life occurs—a climax that will break your heart right open. However, the very gentle and hopeful ending is well worth the agonizing journey.
Atonement (2007)
The novel Atonement by Ian McEwan changed my brain chemistry—and in my opinion, the film was a perfect adaptation.
Atonement (2007)
Saoirse Ronan plays Briony, the film's protagonist—a young girl who makes a false accusation in her childhood that haunts her for life.
Atonement (2007)
Atonement shows how one choice can cause a horrifying ripple effect. Briony's mistake effectively destroys the lives of two people: her sister Cecilia (played by Keira Knightley) and the man she loves (played by James McAvoy).
Atonement (2007)
Atonement does an expert job of giving the audience a taste of what could be—but almost immediately tears it away. To make matters worse, the second part of the film is set against the backdrop of WWII. The tragedy just does not stop coming. I've never wanted a "happily ever after" more than I did for Robbie and Cecilia.
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
1991's Fried Green Tomatoes movie has everything. It's about girlhood and friendship, grief and love—and my god, it will disarm you in the best possible way.
Universal, Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Starring Kathy Bates, Mary Stuart Masterson, Jessica Tandy, and Mary-Louise Parker, Fried Green Tomatoes follows Evelyn, a restless housewife who stumbles into an unexpected—and quietly life-changing—friendship with an elderly woman named Ninny.
Universal, Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Through their time spent together, Ninny recounts heart-wrenching stories to Evelyn about a town called Whistle Stop. The film weaves together two separate timelines in a masterful way—but it's the characters and their wild fates that will have you reaching for the tissue box (and potentially calling up your best friend).
Universal, Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Taika Waititi really wanted to make us double over laughing in one breath and then cry our eyes out in the next. His adapted screenplay for Jojo Rabbit brought home an Academy Award—and it was 100% deserved.
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
Personally, I went in to this movie thinking that this was going to be a dark comedy about WWII. It follows a young German boy names Johannes "Jojo" Betzler, but his life takes a complicated turn when he discovers that his mother (played by Scarlett Johansson) has a secret: She's helping a young Jewish girl hide in the attic.
Jojo Rabbit (2019)
For the most part, the film tackles brutal subject matter with a comedic overtone—but the core of it is tragic. For those who have seen it, the twist is shocking. Speaking for myself, I didn't see it coming at all. From where I was sitting, there was not a dry eye in the room.
